Composed of educational seminars, leisure activities, and food and beverage events, the program is currently in its 100th year, predating the School of Hotel Administration and making HEC one of the oldest organizations at Cornell University.
The purpose of the weekend is for students to practice the skills they have learned in the classroom and to showcase their talents to industry professionals, many of whom are Cornell alumni.
Meek can have any damn thing he wants," an moment traditionally held to mark the founding of the School of Hotel Administration.
[2] As the School of Hotel Administration gained prominence, future HECs became more elaborate, with each year adopting a unique theme that informed program events.
Such themed events were gradually phased out with HEC 77, when the focus of the weekend shifted from socializing to learning and was modeled after existing hospitality industry conferences, with a greater emphasis on guest speakers and panelists.